The school woodland, with a fire circle of log seats under a temporary tarpaulin shelter
St Helen's School crest

St Helen’s Funding Mission

Nature for All

We want to create a safe and welcoming outdoor space where children, families and the wider community can spend time in nature, learn together and support their wellbeing.

Our mission

Our mission is to create an inclusive and accessible woodland learning environment at St Helen’s School. The woodland will support learning, wellbeing and wildlife while bringing the school and wider community together. It will give people of all ages and abilities the chance to learn, explore and enjoy nature.

Love to learn, learning to love, all different, all equal.

Our plan

The pond

The existing pond, covered in green weed, with broken decking and loose timber around the edge
Now

The pond and the area around it need work before they can be used safely for supervised learning.

A drawing of a clear wildlife pond with planting, a timber path and a post and rope fence around it
Our plan

A healthy wildlife pond with a secure fence, a locked gate and a safe place for supervised pond dipping and nature study.

The pond will have suitable safety fencing around it. Access will be controlled and activities will be supervised.

The plan image shows what we hope to create. The final design will depend on safety advice, permission and funding.

The woodland shelter

The woodland fire circle with log seats and a tarpaulin tied between trees
Now

The woodland is already used for outdoor learning, but the temporary shelter limits how often the space can be used.

A drawing of a timber shelter in woodland with bench seating around a central fire and cooking table
Our plan

A lasting woodland shelter with seating and a safely managed fire and cooking area.

The fire area would be used during organised sessions for simple outdoor cooking, warming food, toasting marshmallows and teaching fire safety. It would only be used with trained adult supervision, risk checks and the right safety equipment.

The plan image is an example of what a shelter could look like. It is not completed work or a final approved design.

A place for the community

We want the woodland to be useful to more than the school. Local Scouts, Beavers, Cubs, families and community groups could take part in supervised pond dipping, wildlife study, conservation, outdoor skills and nature activities. Community sessions would be planned and managed safely, including outside school hours where suitable.

  • Learning

    Outdoor lessons, pond dipping and hands-on nature study.

  • Wellbeing

    A calm, sheltered space to spend time outside.

  • Wildlife

    Better habitat for frogs, insects, birds and plants.

  • Community

    Sessions for groups and families beyond the school day.

Community voices

Tell us what this project could mean to you, your family or your group.

Share your view

This form is for adults. Children’s feedback should go through authorised school staff. Every message is checked by a member of staff before it can appear on this page.

0 of 500 characters. Please do not include names or details of children.

What people have said

No messages have been approved yet. Yours could be the first.

Built by HSBWEBDEV(Demo Site)